Allegorie op het 25-jarige regeringsjubileum van Koning Willem III op 12 Mei 1874 1846 - 1880

Johannes Hermanus van der Heijden created this print to mark Willem III's 25th year as King in 1874. It's made using a printing process called lithography, which allowed for relatively quick reproduction. The composition is a riot of symbols: the Dutch lion, flags, allegorical figures, and a portrait of the King himself. These would have been immediately legible to the audience, a visual language of nationhood and monarchy. Consider, too, that the artist has chosen lithography as a medium. This suggests the democratization of imagery, creating a mass-produced item instead of a single painted artwork accessible only to the elite. Looking closely, one can sense the immense labor involved in this kind of printmaking. Each color would have required a separate stone, adding complexity and time to the process. Yet, this meticulous work results in a print intended for broad circulation, connecting the King to the Dutch population. It blurs the lines between propaganda, popular culture, and artistry, reminding us that art always operates within a social and political landscape.